Finishing unit for stereo plates

ABSTRACT

A finishing unit for stereo plates is provided. In one form, the curved stereo plate or plates are stationary and they are of such large radius that within the curvature there is not only mounted the plate feeding and delivery mechanism, the scraping knives, the severing tools, but also the milling cutters and their drives for producing internal lock-up grooves running in circumferential direction. The other form is the mounting of the curved stereo plates within a large radius cylinder that has rotating means while all the tools are mounted therewithin in a stationary manner.

United States Patent von Angerer et al.

11.51 3,701,183 [451 Oct. 31, 1972 June 20, 1968 FINISHING UNIT FORSTEREO PLATES inventors: Roland von Angerer, D-8702 Veitshochheim beiWurzburg; Witmar Gillig, D-8702 l-lettstadt bei Wurzburg, both ofGermany Assignee: 'Schnellpressenfabrik Koenig 8;

Bauer Aktiengesellschait, Wurzburg, Germany Filed: May 22, 1969 Appl.NO.2 826,831

Foreign Application Priority Data Germany ..P 17 61 648.7

US. Cl ..29/21, 29/33 H, 29/40, 90/15 Int. Cl. ..B23p 17/00 Field ofSearch ..29/21, 21.02, 21.03, 33.15, 29/355, 40, 41; 90/15, 171

[56] v References Citedv UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,067,190 1/1937 Huck..90/1s 3,172,172 3/1965 T011i50n et al. ..29/21 x 3,279,027 10/ l 966Meier ..29/21 Primary Examiner-Gil Weidenfeld Attorney-J ones andLockwood ABSTRACT I A finishing unit for stereo plates is provided. Inone form, the curved stereoplate or plates are stationary and they areof such large radius that within the curvature there is not only mountedthe plate feeding and delivery mechanism, the scraping knives, thesevering tools, but also the milling cutters and their drives forproducing internal lock-up grooves running in circumferential direction.The other form is the mounting of the curved stereo plates within alarge radius cylinder that has rotating means while all the tools aremounted therewithin in a stationary manner.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED new 1912 SHEET ll [1F 5 PRIOR ART Amachine of this type has already become known.

The German Pat. specification No. 876,410 shows a scraping apparatus ona rotating'knife bar on which are also arranged roughening and finishingcutters. This apparatus serves merely for smoothening the supportingareas of loose stereo plates.

However, if it is additionally intended to sever also simultaneously thetwo tails or ends of the plates and to mill additionally several lock-upgrooves into the concave supporting surface of the plates, it isnecessary to arrange several finishing units one after the other,because due to the small radius of curvature of normal stereo plates,itis impossible to accommodate several tools of different design in onefinishing unit. Owing to this the machine has an unnecessary length,occupies valuable space in the pressroom and becomes expensive inacquisition. It is also known to incorporate highspeed groove-millingcutters in such finishing units. Owing to difficulties in space, it is,however, not possible to mount these on'the shafts of the driving motorswithin the path of work to be covered by the tool, but for this purposecomplicated transfer means have been developed which are verysusceptible to obstructions.

The prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,172, issued Mar. 9, 1965,entitled Stereotype Plate Casting Machine, shows in FIGS. 8 and 9 astereo plate casting P within a shaving arch or tunnel 301 having meansfor severing a tail portion T. In FIG. 22 the stereo plate after havingthe tail cut off is clamped up onto the underside of the milling arch604 where recesses or notches are milled into the bottom side of theplate as explained in column 9, lines 61-67, of the patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide afinishing machine which makes it possible to accommodate all finishingtools on one tool holder of a unit so that only this finishing unit isnecessary.

This object is achieved by providing such a large radius of curvature ofthe stereo plate that not only the plate-feeding and delivery device,scraping knives and severing tools are rotating below the clamped plateas is already wellknown, but in addition all milling cutters and drivesof the same for producing internal lock-up grooves running incircumferential direction can be attached in the inside circle of theplate. The radius of curvature can be selected in such a way that fouror even more stereo plates form a closed circle.

According'to the further development of the invention the high-speedgroove-milling cutters are keyed directly to the shaft of their drivingmotor. Two motors are mounted on a common plane surface with the shaftspositioned parallel to eachother but at an angle of about 45 in obliquedirection to the axis of the stereo plate.

Owing to this large radius of curvature it is thus possible toaccommodate all necessary finishing tools so that the overall length ofthe machine is surprisingly short'and compact and considerably lower inprice. Due to the fact that the plate is clamped only once, thetolerances of the finished surfaces to each other can be very exactlyadhered to, because in this way the errors of positioning arising whenthe plate is clamped several times are avoided.

- FIG. 2. The plate 6 which is cast with ribs 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings but it is to beclearly understood that the invention is by no means restricted to thedetails of this embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a stereo transfer and finishing machine,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section along the line ll II in FIG. 1 through thefinishing unit on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section along the line III III in FIG. 2 on anenlarged scale illustrating the position of the groove-milling cuttersand,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional viewof FIG. 1 along line IV- IV on an enlargedscale further showing the holder of the tools and its drive; and

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along line V--V in FIG. 2 showing alongitudinal side view of the plate transfer chains and their drive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a stereo platecasting and finishing machine 1 in side view. The plate metal is meltedin furnace 2. The plate is cast in the casting unit 3 and finished inthe finishing unit 4 by severing the tail, shaving the ribs for exactheight and milling the annular lock-up grooves. The finished stereoplate is cooled in the cooling unit 5.

The cross section of the finishing unit 4 is shown in 6 is firmlyclamped in the tunnel-shaped housing or arch 9 by the parts 7 and 8between which it extends. The tools are mounted on the holder 10 whichis pivoted for driven rotation and the axis of which coincides with thecenter of curvature of the stereo plate 6. In FIG. 4 the holder 10 isshown having a conventional worm wheel 10.1 which is driven by a worm10.2 on a drive shaft leading from gear box 10.3 that is powered by amotor 10.4.

The tools consist of the scraping tool 11 which scrapes or shaves therib surfaces 6a to provide a smooth mounting surface for the plate, thegroovemilling cutters 12 which are individually driven by the motors 13for milling in the annular lock up grooves 12a and the cutter 14 forsevering the tails from the ends of stereo plate 6. This later cutter isdriven by the motor 15 and the V-belts 16. Furthermore, on the toolholder 10 is also mounted the plate transfer 21 which consists of thechains 17 which are moved by the gear motor 18 by means of the V-belts19, see FIGS. 2 and 5. The V-belts l9 drive chain sprockets 17.1. Onchains 17 are mounted driving dogs 17.2 for plate 6 which strikes aretractable stop 17.3 to stop the gear motor 18. After securing theplate 6 between the clamps 7 and 8 the holder 10 is rotated, see FIGS. 2and 4, around its axis and in so doing the surfaces 6a are shaved orscraped. After this the holder 10 is rotated to bring the groove-millingcutters 12 into position under the plate 6 to mill in its concave innersurface circumferential tensioning grooves 12a. Then the holder 10 isfurther rotated to bring the cutter 14 into position to sever any tailon the plate 6.

FIG. 3 shows how the groove-milling cutters 12 are positioned toward thestereo plate 6. They are directly keyed to the shaft of their drivingmotor 13. Two moplate castin g,

an angle of about 45 in oblique direction to the axis of the stereoplate 6. In FIG. 3 the milling cutters shown in broken line are analternative cutting position into which they may be swung with theirdriving motors 13.

The scraping tool 11 is adjusted radially by adjusting screw 11.1 andclamped in adjusted position by clamp.

screws 11.2. The severing tool 14 is adjusted in the axial direction onthe holder by shifting the support 14.2 of'the milling cutter 14 on itsmounting seat 14.1

as by conventional screw adjusting means. Each milling cutter 12 isadjusted by shifting its drive motor 13 on its support base means 20.1which includes pivotal adjusting means 20.2 as by conventional screwmeans similar to that shown for scraper 11. However, the plate 6 canalso be clamped into a rotating housing and guided past a number ofstationary tools when this housing is rotating.

Owing to this disclosure it becomes evident which advantages areentailed by the invention, i.e., the plates can be handled in one singlefinishing unit, even if a large number of operations is necessary.

What is claimed is:

l. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relativelylarge radius and having on the inside curved surface spaced apartcircumferentially extending ribs and grooves milled in thecircumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates,comprising in combination, a tunnel-shaped housing with curved means formounting one of said relatively large radius stereo plates and clampmeans thereon for securing said plate for finishing, a rotating mountingmeans at the center of curvature of said tunnel-shaped housing curvedmounting means; said rotating mounting means mounting a plate feedingand delivery device for delivering said plate to the clamping means ofthe housing, scraping knife means for truing the top surface of saidribs in the plate, and severing cutter means for cutting off any tailends of said plate; the improvement therewith comprising unitary millingcutter means and self-contained drive means also mounted on saidrotating mounting means all within a circle formed by the radius ofcurvature of said curved stereo plate and plate mounting means of thetunnel-shaped housing for producing in said spaces between the ribsinternal lockup grooves running in a circumferential direction on theinside surface of curvature of said stereo plate.

2. A finishing unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive means foreach milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and wherein each ofsaid milling cutter means is directly mounted on the shaft of its drivemeans.

3. A finishing unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive means foreach milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotatingmounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter meanswith their drive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lyingin a common plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereoplate at an angle of about 45 and said last-mentioned mounting meanslies in a plane transverse to the axis of said curved plate.

. A fims mg unit according to claim 3 wherein the drive means of eachmilling cutter means includes a drive shaft and wherein each of saidmilling cutter means is directly mounted on the shaft of its drivemeans.

5. A finishing unit according to claim 2 wherein the rotating mountingmeans has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means withtheir drive means shafts extending parallel to each other yet aremounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle-of about45 and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plane transverse tothe axis of said curved plate.

6. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relativelylarge radius of curvature and having spaced apart circumferentiallyextending ribs on the inside curved surface and grooves milled in thecircumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates,and having means for holding the plate stationary, ing means at thecenter of curvature of said stationarily held plate; said mounting meanshaving mounted thereon all within a circle formed by the relativelylarge radius of curvature of said plate, a plate feeding and deliverydevice to feed and deliver said plate from its holding means, scrapingknife means for truing the top surface of said ribs on the plate, andsevering cutter means for cutting off any tail ends of said plate; theimprovement therewith comprising a unitary milling cutter means andself-contained drive means also mounted on said rotating mounting meansall within the circle formed by the relatively large radius of curvatureof said plate for producing-in said spaces between the ribs internallock-up grooves running in a circumferential direction on the insidesurface of curvature of said stereo plate.

7. A finishing unit according to claim 6 wherein the drive means foreach milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotatingmounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutters withtheir self-contained drive means shafts extending parallel to each otherand lying in a common plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of thestereo plate at an angle of about 45 and said last-mentioned mountingmeans lies in a plate transverse to the axis of said curved stereoplate.

comprising in combination, a rotating mount-.

1. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relativelylarge radius and having on the inside curved surface spaced apartcircumferentially extending ribs and grooves milled in thecircumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates,comprising in combination, a tunnel-shaped housing with curved means formounting one of said relatively large radius stereo plates and clampmeans thereon for securing said plate for finishing, a rotating mountingmeans at the center of curvature of said tunnel-shaped housing curvedmounting means; said rotating mounting means mounting a plate feedingand delivery device for delivering said plate to the clamping means ofthe housing, scraping knife means for truing the top surface of saidribs in the plate, and severing cutter means for cutting off any tailends of said plate; the improvement therewith comprising unitary millingcutter means and self-contained drive means also mounted on saidrotating mounting means all within a circle formed by the radius ofcurvature of said curved stereo plate and plate mounting means of thetunnel-shaped housing for producing in said spaces between the ribsinternal lock-up grooves running in a circumferential direction on theinside surface of curvature of said stereo plate.
 2. A finishing unitaccording to claim 1 wherein the drive means for each milling cuttermeans includes a drive shaft and wherein each of said milling cuttermeans is directly mounted on the shaft of its drive means.
 3. Afinishing unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive means for eachmilling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotating mountingmeans has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means withtheir drive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lying in acommon plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plateat an angle of about 45* and said last-mentioned mounting means lies ina plane transverse to the axis of said curved plate.
 4. A finishing unitaccording to claim 3 wherein the drive means of each milling cuttermeans includes a drive shaft and wherein each of said milling cuttermeans is directly mounted on the shaft of its drive means.
 5. Afinishing unit according to claim 2 wherein the rotating mounting meanshas means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means with theirdrive means shafts extending parallel to each other yet are mountedobliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle of about 45* andsaid last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plane transverse to theaxis of said curved plate.
 6. A finishing unit for curved stereo platesformed with a relatively large radius of curvature and having spacedapart circumferentially extending ribs on the inside curVed surface andgrooves milled in the circumferentially extending spaces therebetweenfor securing the plates, and having means for holding the platestationary, comprising in combination, a rotating mounting means at thecenter of curvature of said stationarily held plate; said mounting meanshaving mounted thereon all within a circle formed by the relativelylarge radius of curvature of said plate, a plate feeding and deliverydevice to feed and deliver said plate from its holding means, scrapingknife means for truing the top surface of said ribs on the plate, andsevering cutter means for cutting off any tail ends of said plate; theimprovement therewith comprising a unitary milling cutter means andself-contained drive means also mounted on said rotating mounting meansall within the circle formed by the relatively large radius of curvatureof said plate for producing in said spaces between the ribs internallock-up grooves running in a circumferential direction on the insidesurface of curvature of said stereo plate.
 7. A finishing unit accordingto claim 6 wherein the drive means for each milling cutter meansincludes a drive shaft and the rotating mounting means has meansmounting two of the groove-milling cutters with their self-containeddrive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lying in acommon plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plateat an angle of about 45* and said last-mentioned mounting means lies ina plate transverse to the axis of said curved stereo plate.